Canada was doing its best to hang on to its lead late in the third period of the Gold Medal Game of the 2020 World Juniors.
Leading by one with 1:45 to play, Team Canada was shorthanded thanks to a hooking penalty to defenseman Kevin Bahl.
When forward Aidan Dudas sent a backhand clearing attempt over the glass, it appeared Canada would be down two men.
The puck, though, never actually made it over the glass. It hit the camera.
IIHF Rule 135: v. A player who lifts the puck from the defending zone and hits the scoreclock or any structural object above the ice surface, causing a stoppage of play, will not be assessed a penalty.
The camera in question was mounted to the glass supports, making it a structural object.
The TSN crew debated the call.
Referees Lassi Heikkenen and Kristian Vikman discussed the play with linesmen Ludvig Lundgren and Simon Synek. The foursome ultimately ruled correctly that the puck did deflect off the camera, and that no penalty would be assessed.
Clearly, the puck would have gone out of play – resulting in a delay of game penalty – if not for the camera. That’s not how the rule works, though. As a structural object, the puck striking the camera results in a stoppage and no penalty, regardless of where the puck might have gone next.
